Kenny’s vote of confidence for Spurs ace Parrott

STEPHEN KENNY insists he didn’t need to meet Mauricio Pochettino to discuss whether Tottenham Hotspur teenager Troy Parrott was ready to make the leap to the Republic of Ireland Under 21s. The Dubliner only turned 17 last month but is already a regular around the Spurs first team squad in training and travelled with them for various Premier League games this season. Parrott has starred for the Ireland U17s and U19s and Kenny stressed that he saw enough from the former Belvedere schoolboy to warrant a promotion without liaising with Pochettino. ‘No, I didn’t feel I needed to do that, not that I won’t in the future but it’s not something I’ve done. You don’t have to be the smartest man in the room to see that he (Parrott) can step up. He’s got a lot of talent. Once he comes into an environment where he can flourish and enjoy his football, I’m sure he’ll do well,’ said Kenny, who revealed Parrott must overcome a procedure on his toe. ‘I’d say he’s ready for it based on what I’ve seen. I believe all the players we’ve selected, those young players we’ve accelerated — Lee O’Connor, Conor Coventry, Adam Idah, Troy Parrott — I have no doubt they are ready. We’ve promoted Gavin Bazuna as well and he’s younger again, he’s still eligible for the U17 team this year. So yeah we’ve been impressed with them.’ Ireland face Luxembourg at Tallaght Stadium in their opening U21 European Championship qualifier next weekend and Kenny, who will become senior boss next year, has challenged his squad to deliver and show they’re capable of joining him at that level. Eight players named are from five SSE Airtricity League clubs and that has led to a number of postponements in the Premier Division next week.